Palatine bar owner promises to fight closure

Mercedes Venegas isn't about to fold her business of five years without a fight.

The owner of Mac & Nac Tap in Palatine says the village council's Sept. 2 decision to deny a liquor license due to criminal activity was discriminatory. Venegas won't provide further details, but says she intends to take "further action."

"I have the support of local residents, business owners and my landlord," Venegas said. "I'm not done fighting."

Mac & Nac Tap, located on Palatine's north side at 1643 N. Baldwin Road, was forced to close in June after the connecting Chicago Pizza Authority went out of business. Its liquor license was conditional upon the restaurant's food service.

When Venegas proposed providing her own menu by expanding Mac & Nac Tap into the former restaurant space, she was told her bar had been the target of an undercover narcotics investigation.

Police Chief John Koziol, at a July zoning board hearing, detailed gang activity and cocaine sales at the bar dating back to 2006. Venegas responded by submitting a security plan, prompting the board to recommend approving her expansion proposal in August. Ultimately, the village council said no.

"It's not anything personal," said Councilman Jack Wagner. "It's because this location has a big history of major unlawful activities over a long period of time."

Koziol further testified to the council that northeast Palatine is already saturated with liquor establishments. He's concerned by the number of drinking in public citations issued in the area.

Koziol also stated that the manager of Mac & Nac Tap has himself been cited for drinking in public five times in the last two years.

"That to me goes to how the establishment is being operated," said Village Manager Reid Ottesen.

Venegas says she doesn't tolerate drugs in her bar and disputes reports by undercover police that patrons weren't being carded. She also questions the authenticity of a petition opposing Mac & Nac Tap's reopening. She says names and addresses don't match, and that several Spanish-speaking residents included told her they never saw the petition, which is written in English.

"They never saw anything," said Venegas, who herself got 140 area residents and business owners to sign a petition in her favor. "They don't speak English, much less read it."